The Skeleton Key: A family reunion ends in murder; the Sunday Times top ten bestseller

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Scary, moving and compelling: a beautifully-plotted, gorgeously-written triumph of a thriller' NICCI FRENCH DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Skeleton Key via Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. after newsletter promotion At least five men are known to have died while hunting for the Forrest Fenn treasures

Real insomnia is not just brought on by stress or alcohol abuse, says Darrieussecq. When sleepers complain that they haven’t slept all night, insomniacs feel like replying “that they haven’t slept all their life”. Darrieussecq hasn’t been able to sleep properly since she had her three children, more than twenty years ago. Since then she has tried many so-called cures – from counting sheep to a fasting cure in an old monastery – which she describes with a mixture of humour and resignation. The only thing that really works for her are sleeping pills. In 2021, the 50th anniversary of The Golden Bones, things are about to be stirred up again. The book is being reissued along with a new treasure hunt and a documentary crew are charting everything that follows. With the Churchers reunited, Nell is appalled, and terrified. During the filming, Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone. And then all hell breaks loose. Not sleeping, writes French novelist Marie Darrieussecq, is like “wandering around without a shadow”. In 2017, Darrieussecq began writing a monthly magazine column about insomnia which continued for two years. Her editor jokingly referred to it as “the one thousand and one nights of insomnia”. Except, as Darrieussecq so eloquently shows, insomnia is no joke. Spanning 50 years, this really is an absolutely gifted telling of a twisted tale. I really didn’t see a lot of it coming, as I never do with Kelly’s books! The characters are mostly awful, in that brilliant way of a thriller. Snobby, rich, selfish, self-entitled. All apart from Billie, who I absolutely loved. The incident with the glass just made me love her more! Scary, moving and compelling: a beautifully-plotted, gorgeously-written triumph of a thriller’ NICCI FRENCHSo... Nell has returned home to her (mostly) estranged family to celebrate the anniversary of her father's famous book - The Golden Bones - a treasure hunt book that, well, let's just say has been the bane of the majority of Nell's life. But I'll leave you to discover the whys and wherefores of that. Suffice to say that things don't quite go according to plan and shenanigans ensue as a skeleton is found. Flitting between the present and the past in multiple timelines the truth of what it all is really about starts to come out. With corresponding, at time almost spectacular, fallout...

Moody, propulsive, and one of the most intriguing set ups I've read in years. Erin Kelly doesn't put a foot wrong in this atmospheric, original thriller * Gillian McAllister * Kelly explores a number of themes, including the power of myth and folklore, dysfunctional family dynamics, and how out of control some fans can become, especially when fuelled by conspiracy theories. I loved the suspense that fed through this book, the constant feeling of the truth being just out of reach. The depiction of the kinds of obsession and addiction, both healthy and otherwise, that fed the long term readers and fans of the book, as well as those at the heart of its creation, had a real ring of authenticity. The danger and threat posed by those most ardent, and deranged, amongst the fans was palpable. We’ve all seen it, the way some people turn the love of something, be it a book, a film or even idolising an actor, into something dark and twisted, and when such an overwhelming fascination is matched by declining mental health the results can be catastrophic. Erin Kelly has captured perfectly in the sometimes manic, always overbearing nature of some of the characters and the often excessive lives led by the two central families. Great pacing as the story builds to a climax and it left me wondering if I would agree with Nells moral stance as all the secrets are revealed. While pretty dark in places this book still manages to be fun and original and I absolutely loved it.Vince is optimistic about our chances of successfully managing the massive dislocation caused by warming of 4C, and does not dwell on the alternative: a world that does not cope with the displacement of billions of people. The result would be widespread and perpetual conflict across the world, and a tragic new chapter of suffering in human history. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for approving me for an ARC of this book. I’d also like to thank Tandem Collective UK for inviting me to take part in my first listen along. This is the first book of Erin Kelly’s that I have read and I was excited to dive in. But when Nell's life, and by extension young Billie's life, is threatened by Frank's desperate need to always be in the spotlight, the centre of attention, the Churcher and Lally clans circle the wagons in an attempt to control the frenzy Frank has unleashed upon them, with unforeseen consequences. This is a long book and it contains a lot of story. Told over a long timespan. But it never felt long, or overwhelming. It's colourful and rich and contains some of the best and dysfunctional characters I have read about in time. Nell herself I took to immediately. Others took a while and some I was never sure about - often with good reason! I especially enjoyed the "interconnections" between the Churchers and the Lallys in what I would guess would be a co-dependent relationship. Of sorts anyway. The treasure hunt parts were exciting to read about and the parts about the Bonehunters and the forum were so well done.

This book, though somewhat inspired by that, is entirely different. Far more sinister, as a number of deranged individuals misinterpreted the meaning of the book's premise...leading to dangerous times for the author's family... The characters are superbly portrayed. Who could not love and admire Nell for abandoning the claustrophobic craziness and striking out on her own? Or Dom for becoming the quintessential 'city boy' in retaliation to his parents loose and louche lifestyle? Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!The Skeleton Key is just my sort of book. A dark family led story with lots of secrets that have been hidden for years. The book follows the joint sories of the Churcher and Lally families who have been life long friends. The Skeleton Key is a remarkable novel. It is the story of a treasure hunt that has become more real than real life for its dedicated players. It is not long before it ceases to be a game.